Exploring the true nature of spiritual authority under Christ’s kingship
Last time, we explored the Scriptures on binding and loosing—verses that have often been used to support the idea of spiritual warfare, especially in commanding the devil to “loose” what he’s trying to steal.
We looked at:
- Matthew 18:15–18, where Jesus speaks of church discipline and the authority to bind and loose.
- Matthew 12:29, where Jesus refers to binding the strong man before plundering his house.
These verses have been used by many, including myself in the past, to bind Satan and claim victory over sickness, poverty, or any spiritual attack.
But today, I want to pause and ask:
Did Jesus actually pass His authority on to man?
One of the most common phrases in certain Christian circles is: “Jesus gave us all authority!” Believers take this to imply or are taught (as I was), that by implication they can now command Satan, claim health and wealth, and exercise power in the same way Jesus or the apostles did.
Let’s look at a foundational passage:
Matthew 28:18-20 ESV: 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The Source of All Authority
Christ’s authority is divine, not borrowed
Christ’s authority is not something believers can inherit, claim, or share equally—it is uniquely His, rooted in His divine nature and granted by the Father. If we misunderstand where Christ’s authority comes from, we will misinterpret our role in spiritual warfare.
The Bible is clear – Jesus said:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18, ESV)
This authority is given to Christ. Does verse 19 “Go therefore…” imply that this authority is then given to us? Many seem to think that this is the case. I’m not quite sure how they get to that, but they do.
The source of Christ’s authority is God the Father. Let’s see what Scripture says.
Matthew 11:27. All things have been handed over to me by my Father…
John 3:35. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.
John 13:3. Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands…
Ephesians 1:20–21. God raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
John 17:2. Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.1
Jesus received His authority from God the Father – it is divine, eternal and God-given.
All Authority?
Our calling is obedience, not presumption.
Many Christians assume that if Jesus has all authority, we automatically possess it in full. But Matthew 28:18–20 shows that what Jesus received after His resurrection was not simply handed over to His followers as such—it was the basis for a specific commission, not a blanket empowerment to do all He did.
In Matthew 28:18, Jesus declares: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” This is a post-resurrection declaration.
- This implies a new phase in His messianic role: the risen, glorified Christ now exercises mediatorial kingship over all creation, having accomplished redemption.
- Jesus had now conquered sin and death, and is now exercising His kingship as the risen, glorified God-Man.
Sinclair Ferguson puts it beautifully: “He always had the authority of God, but now He has the authority of the God-Man, the risen Lord, the Head of the new humanity.”2
Jesus, as the eternal Son of God, always possessed divine authority, but after His resurrection, He entered a new phase of His messianic role—public enthronement as the risen, glorified God-Man.
Eternal Authority as the Divine Son
Christ’s authority from eternity past
It’s important to remember that Jesus’ authority didn’t begin after His resurrection—it is eternal. Before creation itself, He possessed all authority as the divine Son. This guards us from thinking that His kingship is somehow a shared office into which we can step.
Jesus has always had “all authority”.
- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:1–4)3
- Colossians 1:16 says all things were created through Him and for Him.4 He was never without divine authority.
Think of a crown prince…
Think of it like a crown prince who always has royal blood and status—but only after a great victory is he publicly enthroned and given the scepter to rule. Jesus’ resurrection was that victory, and His ascension was His enthronement.
So now we see that Jesus has all authority and has always had all authority, but now the question is, did Jesus give that authority to believers?
Delegated, Not Transferred
We serve under Christ’s authority—not in place of it
When Jesus said, “All authority… has been given to me. Go therefore…” (Matthew 28:18–19), He wasn’t passing the crown. He was sending His disciples as His representatives.
We operate under His authority, not in place of it. Like ambassadors, we speak on behalf of the King but never act as the King Himself.
**We are commissioned, not crowned.
**We operate under His authority, not our own.
Let’s revisit Matthew 28:18–20:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore…”
Notice the order. Jesus doesn’t say, “I now give you all this same authority.”
He says, “Go therefore…”
This is delegated authority, not transferred authority.
We are not given the authority to do all that Jesus did. We are commissioned to make disciples, baptize, and teach—all under His authority, not our own.
So What Authority Do We Have?
Our calling is obedience, not presumption
We have:
- Authority to obey
- Authority to proclaim
- Authority to make disciples
But we do not have autonomous spiritual authority to command, decree, or bind in the way Christ or the apostles did. Our strength lies in submission to Christ.
Our power lies in obedience, our strength lies in submission to Christ.
Reflection
A gentle invitation to examine and rest
Truth calls for self-examination. If Christ’s authority is unique and absolute, how should that shape our prayers, our spiritual warfare, and our expectations?
Consider these questions:
- Have you been taught—or perhaps even taught others—to “take authority” in ways Scripture never commands?
- Have you felt pressure to declare victory, command Satan, or speak things into existence?
- Have you been left weary or discouraged when those declarations didn’t seem to change anything?
Here’s the good news:
- You are not called to bear the weight of authority that belongs to Christ alone.
- You are called to walk under the shelter of the One who already reigns.
- You don’t have to conjure power—the Victor fights for you.
So today…
- Lay down the burden of trying to wield what was never yours to carry.
- Take up the joy of following the One whose authority is limitless.
- Rest in His care, trust His promises, and submit to His perfect will.
─── ❁ ───
Friend, you are not called to bear that weight.
You are called to walk under the shelter of the One who already reigns.
─── ❁ ───
Our strength lies in submission.
Our power lies in obedience.
Our rest lies in Him.
─── ❁ ───
To be Continued…
As we’ve seen in Part 2, our authority is not autonomous—we operate under Christ’s authority, not in place of it. But what about the verses we often hear in spiritual warfare—Matthew 18:18 and Matthew 12:29? Many believers quote them confidently, yet often without seeing them in context. Before we “bind” or “loose” anything, it’s vital to understand what Jesus really meant.
In Part 3 – When Context Changes Everything
Two of the most cited verses in spiritual warfare may not mean what you think they mean. We’ll examine them and discover how a proper understanding – context – reshapes our view of spiritual authority and prayer.